Criminal and Family Attorney
Interview with Dawn Roberts, Owner of The Roberts Lawfirm
Education
Dawn has been an attorney 11 years, worked under someone for two years and owned a business for nine years. In order to get her degree, Dawn went to Dallas Baptist University and Texas Wesleyan School of Law. She got her Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and then continued in law school for three more years to get her Juris Doctor Degree (J.S.). To get into law school, taking the LSAT was required. Upon completing law school, taking the Bar Exam was expected in order to become a licensed attorney.
Most Interesting Projects
While working in the criminal field, Dawn represented a woman who had been scalped by her husband. There was no exuberant cause for this, other than the fact that he was angry during an argument. The man was charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon, although the man never received lawful punishment because she decided to drop the charges. However, if the charges were not dropped, the husband would have faced possibly five years in prison.
Also, Dawn once represented a woman in a criminal case where her husband abused her. The client was told to get a protective order, although she refused because she already owed money and was too proud to ask for money to pay for a protective order. When the woman decided to file for divorce, she wanted to deliver the paper to her husband herself, rather than having someone else so it. After giving him the paper, she was in her car and he shot her. He then decided to get into his own car, and got pulled over for speeding. Upon pulling over, the man shot himself.
Also, Dawn once represented a woman in a criminal case where her husband abused her. The client was told to get a protective order, although she refused because she already owed money and was too proud to ask for money to pay for a protective order. When the woman decided to file for divorce, she wanted to deliver the paper to her husband herself, rather than having someone else so it. After giving him the paper, she was in her car and he shot her. He then decided to get into his own car, and got pulled over for speeding. Upon pulling over, the man shot himself.
First Involved
She was first enlisted in the Air Force and served for eight years, after the eight years the option of reenlisting or leaving was brought upon her and she chose to leave because she was expecting. While in law school, she was inspired by her teachers who where lawyers. Also, the fact that it was most financially appealing while being a single mother.
Typical Day
A typical day in the Roberts Law Firm consists of court in the mornings, possibly into the afternoon, and then stays in the office and meets with clients. Upon meeting clients, Dawn must prepare documents, such as motions, briefs, pleadings. She must also return phone calls, bill clients, and schedule court dates.
Vacation and Future Oportunities
To get tuition reimbursement, one must have to maybe work for legal aid or a non-profit organization. Since Dawn owns her own business, she can have as many vacation days as she wishes as long as she works around her court schedule. She must also give the courts, other attorneys, and her clients a notice no later than one month in advance. The job outlook for lawyers is not so good simply because there are so many young attorneys and not enough open jobs. The hardest thing for businesses that have been open for many years is competing with all of the new offices that charge very cheaply. Dawn does see herself working in the law field in ten years because she "doesn't know how to do anything else," she also says that her job can be "depressing" because she easily gets involved in sad cases, such as abuse cases.